Plenty of chances now for the Mets to further prove they've got that toughness.

Meanwhile, it's still early, so we'll be seeing more volatile movement in the rankings, though some of the teams we thought would be high up are starting to settle in there. In other words, they are who we thought they were, to paraphrase Denny Green.

20. Tampa Bay Rays (6-7, last week No. 26): Until the Yanks got 'em this weekend, the Rays had not been swept at home in a series of three or more games since Sept. 13-15, 2005. Yanks did it then, too.

21. Los Angeles Angels (5-7, last week No. 16): Garrett Richards wasn't overly sharp in his return from his knee injury. But you're missing the point — him coming back from the injury is huge for the Halos.